Fender got their ovens ready to roast some necks...

[Unwound G]

The new standard and FMIC does not want to be late for the party.
https://www.guitarworld.com/news/fender-has-started-selling-roasted-maple-strat-and-tele-necks

 

[mayfly]

Hmmm.  To bad they are putting a finish on them.

 

[Kostas]

Just 10+ years late. As always...

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Just 10+ years late. As always...

and still not up to the quality of Warmoth by any means...

 

[DangerousR6]

Just 10+ years late. As always...

:laughing11:

 

[Rick]

I look at it as they've finally arrived at the party and maybe they can add something to the conversation.

 

[swarfrat]

Just 10+ years late. As always...

and still not up to the quality of Warmoth by any means...

Oh... I dunno. Not that I do know, but I dunno. I just know somebody made a REALLY big CNC upgrade a few years ago that wasn't paid for by me ordering a neck every 10 years.

 

[Kostas]

I look at it as they've finally arrived at the party and maybe they can add something to the conversation.

Fender is not a leader anymore, they are followers (usually). They watch and wait if the new ideas are here to stay, then they incorporate them to their line. How many years people were making Jazzcasters with parts? More than 10 before Fender released a ltd line.

Wait for when they'll discover SS frets...

 

[stratamania]

Just 10+ years late. As always...

And Warmoth has not been doing them that long either...

 

[Cagey]

Fender is not a leader anymore, they are followers (usually). They watch and wait if the new ideas are here to stay, then they incorporate them to their line. How many years people were making Jazzcasters with parts? More than 10 before Fender released a ltd line.

Wait for when they'll discover SS frets...

I'm not going to hold my breath while waiting. Even out of the "Custom Shop" using relatively soft nickel/silver frets, their fretwork isn't that great, so I can't imagine them wanting to take the time to wrestle with stainless. If they do, knowing them and considering how much extra they charge to add somebody's famous name and install some cheap obsolete hardware on the thing, it'll probably be a $3,800 adder.

 

[Kostas]

And Warmoth has not been doing them that long either...

Τrue, they are slower than Fender. Just last week I noticed they started offering alternative compound radius, I remember people asking about it since I registered in the old forum. SS frets with binding...Gotoh 510 trem and several other things took em years to offer.

At least they have an excuse. They are a small company with a turtle as their trademark, it should be an indication...

 

[swarfrat]

Fender is not a leader anymore, they are followers (usually). They watch and wait if the new ideas are here to stay, then they incorporate them to their line. How many years people were making Jazzcasters with parts? More than 10 before Fender released a ltd line.

Wait for when they'll discover SS frets...

I'm not going to hold my breath while waiting. Even out of the "Custom Shop" using relatively soft nickel/silver frets, their fretwork isn't that great, so I can't imagine them wanting to take the time to wrestle with stainless. If they do, knowing them and considering how much extra they charge to add somebody's famous name and install some cheap obsolete hardware on the thing, it'll probably be a $3,800 adder.

That's an easy one - Fender is in the business of capitalizing on their 'Vintage' image. They're just waiting for SS frets to become 'vintage'

 

[john_p_wi]

They (Fender) can do it, the Govan Charvel has had a roasted maple neck and stainless frets for some time.  IIRC, it was available before Warmoth offered the roasted maple...

 

[Fat Pete]

It's just a suspicion, but I'm not sure quite all Fender's raw materials come from the Magical Fullerton Forest, they can just buy wood, roasted or otherwise, as can anybody else capable of making necks.

 

[Kostas]

They (Fender) can do it...

Of course they can, they are one of the biggest guitar brands, they can do many things. They don't do it because the majority of their clients are stuck in the past. There are people who complain about the move of the truss rod adjustement on the headstock. A guy once was complaining about the tele neck pickup being mounted on the pickguard, these two screws on the pickguard are not vintage correct. When people want to take the pickguard off to make adjustements something is not right...

 

[Rick]

Well, Fender is a business and the demand has probably reached critical mass for them to start making a profit.  They will probably start at the high end, and in three years, if the demand persists, roasted necks will be an option throughout their lines.  I say good on them.  I'm not sure what the big deal is.  :icon_scratch:  Nothing wrong with roasted maple necks, and if they become common enough prices should come down.

 

[Strat Avenger]

They (Fender) can do it...

Of course they can, they are one of the biggest guitar brands, they can do many things. They don't do it because the majority of their clients are stuck in the past. There are people who complain about the move of the truss rod adjustement on the headstock. A guy once was complaining about the tele neck pickup being mounted on the pickguard, these two screws on the pickguard are not vintage correct. When people want to take the pickguard off to make adjustements something is not right...

Not defending Fender, but seriously, how often do neck pickup adjustments need to be made?
Adjust it and forget about it.

 

[Strat Avenger]

And Fender is still doing those stupid squared off heels on everything but Deluxe models. 
ALL models should have a countoured heel (except for vintage reissues). Get with the 21st century already!

 

[musicispeace]

They (Fender) can do it...

Of course they can, they are one of the biggest guitar brands, they can do many things. They don't do it because the majority of their clients are stuck in the past. There are people who complain about the move of the truss rod adjustement on the headstock. A guy once was complaining about the tele neck pickup being mounted on the pickguard, these two screws on the pickguard are not vintage correct. When people want to take the pickguard off to make adjustements something is not right...

The fixation claiming nothing has happened after 1969 also infects techs. Where I live most of them are stuck in the "vintage" mindset. One who has decades of experience and once played in bands with my older brother had no idea who Bare Knuckle pickups is. Another had never heard of the Wilkinson bridge.

I'm itching to do a totally "modern" strat project, hipshot bridge, schaller tuners, raw roasted maple neck, etc.

 

[BroccoliRob]

And Fender is still doing those stupid squared off heels on everything but Deluxe models. 
ALL models should have a countoured heel (except for vintage reissues). Get with the 21st century already!

But then I couldn't use my side adjust necks on them fools, my Broman Capote! I called the big W about this year's ago and it's a bad bad thing.